Disc golf: I played left-handed for a week (here’s how it went …)

Poorly.

I’ll cut right to the chase – it went poorly.

For the good of the blog, right?

During the off-season, I can only write so many “gripe” pieces and disc reviews before my mind turns to mush. As such, I figured this’d be a fun way to mix things up. And as luck would have it, my nagging, years-long battle with tennis elbow flared up at just the right time …

One week. Three rounds. Big-time embarrassment. 

Kismet.

The positives

Respectability was the goal …

I didn’t get there.

My original thinking was if Eagle McMahon can effortlessly throw a left-handed hyzer farther than I can throw a full-blown, backhand flex, getting the disc to do something halfway mediocre would be in the cards, right? I mean, it’s merely a mirrored doing of what I already know …

Hardly.

Three positives from the experience:

• Item No. 1 – I’m now a more humble human.
• Item No. 2 – I can better relate to first-time disc golfers.
• Item No. 3 – I’m able to throw a 125-foot hyzer with a beefy frisbee.

It’s got to be freaky overstable, though. For me, the shot’s reliable, predictable and repeatable. But again, the disc has to be a complete and total meathook to account for my gosh-awful form.

That’s about it.

The negatives

How much time do you have?

If you’ve spent any amount of minutes tinkering with off-hand form, you can relate – it’s awkward. On the teepad of each of the 54 holes I played, I’d do a quick walk-through of my regular, right-handed routine. Then, I’d immediately try and replicate it on the other side of my body. No matter how many times I gave it a whirl, the whole thing felt foreign – uncomfortable.

Next, the discs I used were REALLY understable. I plucked ‘em straight from my wife’s bag, in fact. And there’s nothing wrong with flippy discs, but they weren’t the frisbees I was used to throwing – they felt funny. After the first round, I ditched my Upper Park Shift altogether. Nothing more was needed than a D-Blend Myth, ESP Meteor and Opto Air Diamond.

Not to mention a single Champion Firebird as the aforementioned “beefy frisbee.”

Also, let’s talk putting …

You might be the pushiest push-putter of all time, but the second you switch to putting with your off-hand, you realize how much action those fingertips of yours actually see. I now know for myself that my left hand is nearly incapable of putting any rotation on a putter – it was ugly.

Finally, lefty forehands?

[Insert Laugh-Track Audio]

Forget about ‘em – they’re not happening.

* Note: All of my lefty rounds took place in snow, but it didn’t matter – I was all arm.

Final takeaways

Proficient, off-hand drives and approaches could prove valuable. And you don’t even need much distance. Short-range confidence is all that’s really required – and on a single hyzer angle, too.

But, man …

Just learn a simple flick.

In an effort to prolong his career, I understand why a guy like Eagle might workshop a 375-foot backhand hyzer. His play is so heavily dependent on his power sidearm, that without it, there’s a gaping hole in his game. For the rest of us, though, barring a serious injury, go with the flick.

Or if you’re really nutty, work on your turnovers – novel, I know.

I see people all over my timeline doing incredible things in life with far fewer limbs than you’d think would be needed to find success. So yes, developing a lefty backhand is WELL within your God-given abilities, but you’ll need longer than a week to do it – and a buttload of patience, too.

Ambidexterity isn’t for everybody …

I’m one of those people.

Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.

Editor’s Suggestions:

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